During an emergency, maintaining open communication networks is imperative. In the first several days of Hurricane Helene response, telecommunicators and first response teams had to cope with a deluge of 911 calls and interruptions in cellular networks. SERT immediately set about restoring communications.
Even before Hurricane Helene reached North Carolina, SERT Swift Water Rescue and Urban Search and Rescue teams were stationed in Western NC, ready to deploy when called.
Less than a month after Hurricane Helene hit Western North Carolina, Governor Roy Cooper today shared a state budget recommendation to help rebuild stronger to withstand future storms. The recommendation includes an initial $3.9 billion package to begin rebuilding critical infrastructure, homes, businesses, schools and farms damaged during the storm.